Fish-trap



2 'sheets-sheet i.

(No Model.)

P. H. LOUD, J1?.

`#FISH TRAP.

No. 527,435.` Patented Oct. 16, 1894.

WlTNESSES:

ATTOR NEYJ.

y UNITED STATES rPATENT OFFICE.

PHILOLOGOUS H. LOD, J R., OF CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 527,435, dated October 16, 1 894. Application filed June 30, 1894. Seal No. 516.239. (No model.)

.To all whom it may concern:

`113e it known that I, PHILoLoGoUs H. LOUD,

" Jr.,\a citizen of the United States of America,

residing at the city of Charleston, Charleston county, State of South Carolina, have invented certain newand useful Improvements inTraps for Sea-Bass, dac., of which the following is a specification.

My invention has for its object an improved means for catching sea bass or other sea or fresh water sh, the same being in the nature of a trap adapted to be lowered or set upon the bottom, or below the surface of the water in which it is used.` i

My invention aims especially to furnish a device of this character which is economical and durable of construction, which may be conveniently used, set and removed, and

` which will be efficient for thepurpose.

`To this end my improvement consists in a trap formed principally or entirely of wire or other netting of large mesh mounted upon Ma frame in such manner that currents of water may pass freely through it, the trap being provided upon one or more sides with an opening or openings having converging walls adapted to direct the fish toward a slit or opening at the inner end of said walls, and provided further, within the trap, with bait-hold` ing devices of such character that minnows, small crabs, or other live bait may be confined and protected and at the same time displayed so as to be readily seen from the exterior of the trap and attract the fish. The said frame is furthermore preferably constructed so that it may be readily folded for the purpose of handling and transporting what would otherwise be a very bulky device.

In order to make my invention more clearly understood, I have shown in the accompanying drawings means for carrying the same into practical` effect, without limiting my improvements in their useful applications, to the particular construction which, for the sake of illustration, I have delineated.

In said drawingsz--Figure lis a perspective view of a fish trap embodying my invention, the samebeing shown with its parts in posi- `tion for use. Fig. 2j is a perspective View of the same open for baiting it or for removing the catch. Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional viewof the trap. Figs. 4 and 5 are respect-` ively vertical and horizontal sectional views, p

showing the construction of the corners of the trap frames. Figs. 6 and 7 are vertical sectional views of the bait receptacles.

Referring lto the drawings, l indicates the side pieces of the horizontal bottom frame of the trap. These `are preferably made of wrought iron and heavier than the upper frame pieces so as to give stability to the device and prevent it from being accidentally overturned by currents or otherwise.

Each

of the pieces l is preferably formed at each end with a quadrant 2 situated horizontally so p that the quadrants at the meeting ends of said frame pieces may lie flat one upon the other.

3 indicates a perforation in each quadrant l near its angle, through which perforations are adapted to be passed the lower ends of the vertical `frame pieces 4. When thus in- .serted it will be observed that the pieces 4 serve as hinge-pins` upon which the frame pieces 1 may be turned, to bringthetrap top frame in the manner already described. In order to give rigidity to the frame of the trap the quadrants 2 are provided with eccentric perforations 8 through which` may be passed short bolts 9, thus preventing any turning of the horizontal upon the vertical up the bolts 9 are removed. p

10 and 11 indicate top and bottom` panels frame pieces. When the trap is to be folded preferably of web wire netting which `will y offer little or no obstruction to the passage of water in raising or lowering thetrap. `These panelsare united with the frame pieces 7 and l in any convenient manner, and are preferably removed, or partly removed or slackened when the trap is to be folded. `12 indicates the permanent vertical or side panels of the trap, their vertical edges being IOO trap and the bait tobe readily observed fromV the exterior, I substitute inwardly inclined panels 13, at the inner ends of which is left the opening 14, Fig. 1, through which access is obtained to the interior of the device when the trap is set., `In the drawings I have, illus,- trated this entrance as formed with but two panels, consisting of wire nettingl mounted upon frames 15, the outer vertical edges of whichlattcr are hinged to the uprights 4 bymetallic strapsor loops 16, and the upper and lower edges ofH which are in close proximity to the inner faces ofv the top. and bot.-V

tom` panels 10 andll; but I do not-confine myself to formingV theentrance of' thetrap panels illustrated. p

Inorder to adjust the size,v of thev open-ing or slit 14 to the fish for which the trap is to beset, I connect the frames 15 by one or more turn-bucklesV 17, by the operation of which the inner edges of the-panels 13 may other, and which` may beentirely disconnectedas shown in Fig; 2, toy give freej access to thel interior of thetrap.

The bait should be displayed oppositeftothev slit or opening 14andthemeansffor holdinggit must be such. that it can bekept alive, and so as tourbe readily observed by thej sh fromv thefexterior of the trap. To this end Iprovide a boxer receptaclel8which is preferably suspended at or near the, middle;

of the trap bywires- 19 which; are connected with the top and bottomof the, trap. Theq bottom panels of close woven wire netting,

whichV will confine the minnows or small crabs or other bait and will permit a free circulation of water through the bait box, for keeping thebait alive. TheSaid'Wire-panels are indicated by 22. understood that the Walls of thebait receptacle may bek made entirelyof glassl or, of wire,.without -departing from my invention.

23 yis a supplementalbait receptacle, which maybeusedwith or in place of thell'ecep. tacle 18.` It consists` of a. glass jar held in ay supporting frame of wire 24,the llower por, tion of which latter is attached toA the bottom 11 of the trap. Said jar has a cover 25 by which it may be` sealed.

26 is a Wire cone or other suitable support 'latter receptacleis partly filled. with; water p above whichx the top of the cone26' willpro- `ready entrance,when attracted by the'ba-itf lwhichpwill seem to be withineasy reach, and unprotected, through the slit or opening 14,

ybut in most cases it will be impossible for l v trap. l by the precise form` or number of inclined 1 d It will, however, beZ

within thejar 23. In baiting the trap this ject, and a number of small crabs or other bait are placed within the jar. l When the "trap is set the playing of the bait within the jar and on the cone 26 serves as anA attractionV for the fish toV be caught.

27 indicates wire or other cords connected -wi'th the -top corners of the trap and, united to a central hoisting line 28. At the upper end of the latter is attached a buoy 29 which 7 5 marks` the place where the trap has been set. Said buoy may be of sufficient size to sus- .pendf the trap in the Water above the bottom.n

When the trap is set the tish will nd a y them to find theexit from the interior of th 1. A sh trap composed of foraminated material, having the inwardly inclined hingedv bait receptacle with-in the trap,substantially g as set forth. be broughtnearer to or farther from-each 2. A fish trap composed of foraminated ma- `terial, having a suitableentrance opening,

and within theA trap the live orother bait re- 9 5 cep tacle- 18 provided with transparent .vertical walls and top and bottom panels of wire 4netting orequivalent open work, substantially as -set forth.

3. A fish trap composed ofrwire netting or similar material, having a suitable. entrance -opening, the bait re ceptacle.18,.and the jar IIO .material supported on saidv pieces and up rights, substantially as set forth.

PHILoLoGoUs H. LOUD, .na j

Witnesses i T. W. BAooIl,

EDWARD MCCRADY. 

